ROCKFORD STAYS HOT ON THE ROAD WITH 6-2 WIN

IceHogs take down the Admirals for their fifth straight road win

Milwaukee, Wis. – Trailing 1-0 early in the second period, the Rockford IceHogs (18-6-1-2) used two goals in nine seconds from P.C. Labrie and Vince Hinostroza and never looked back, earning a 6-2 win on the road in Milwaukee (17-9-1-0) to match their highest single-game goal output of the season.

The win marked the fifth straight on the road for Rockford and pushed the team's record on the road to 11-3-0-1 this season.

Goaltender Michael Leighton was tested early on in the first period, as the Admirals jumped out to an 8-2 advantage in shots on goal, but could not solve the IceHogs goaltender. The IceHogs settled into the game as the frame wore along, and cut Milwaukee's shot lead to only 8-7 going into the intermission.

Kevin Fiala put Milwaukee ahead just 43 seconds into the middle stanza. Fiala took a pass from Frederick Gaudreau and blasted a shot off the right post and into the net for the first goal of the night.

The IceHogs answered back and took the lead with two quick goals in nine seconds. First, Vince Hinostroza fired a shot that was stopped by Marek Mazanec, but P.C. Labrie banged home the rebound for his 150th professional point, tying the game at 1-1 at 5:55 of the second.

Hinostroza then scored his first career pro goal at 6:04. Labrie skated the puck in the zone, faked a slap shot and moved a pass to the right circle. Hinostroza took the pass and slid a shot under the pads of Mazenec to put Rockford up 2-1.

The IceHogs capped off the second period scoring with a power play strike with 3:19 remaining. Jeremy Morin found Erik Gustafsson open at the center of the blueline, and Gustaffson's one-timer was deflected by Marko Dano into the top corner of the cage. The three goal outburst in the second frame tied a season-high for goals in a single period for Rockford, which the team matched again in the third.

Labrie fired home his second goal of the game just 20 seconds into the third, when he snapped a shot from the top of the right circle just inside the left post, boosting Rockford's lead to 4-1.

Trevor Murphy struck right back for Milwaukee, bringing the Admirals back to within two when he one-timed a Rockford clearning attempt from the left point into the top corner of the net.

Milwaukee looked to cut the lead to one with a late third-period power play, but after a close call in the defensive zone, the IceHogs extended the lead. Tanner Kero took the puck into the attacking end, dished a pass to Mark McNeill, and in his first game since Nov. 18, McNeill powered a shot past Mazanec to give the IceHogs a 5-2 lead.

Jeremy Morin scored his seventh goal of the season on an empty-net with 2:57 left in the game to seal the contest for the IceHogs.

Leighton finished the contest with 31 stops, while Mazanec turned aside 24 for the Admirals.

Next Home Game: Dec. 21 vs. Milwaukee Admirals at 7 p.m. The IceHogs and Admirals square off in a border battle at the BMO. The first 2,500 fans through the turnstiles will receive a Teuvo Teravainen Bobblehead thanks to Dental Dimensions. It’s also another “Winning Weekday.” Every time the IceHogs win at home on a weekday, each fan in attendance will receive a free ticket to the next weekday game. Fans can also enjoy $2 beers, sodas, hot dogs, and companion tickets.